Friday, December 19, 2014
A few week ago I told you I was writing an essay based on some of this blog's post-election literary-political posts and comments. Well, I did write that essay and, today the progressive online magazine Vox Populi has published "The Marketing of American Individualism." Thank you all for your support in this endeavor, and thanks especially to my friend David, whose civilized and large-hearted sadness about the American state of mind triggered so many of my thoughts.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
I am thrilled!
I enjoyed your essay Dawn. I am wondering what, if anything else, you have to add on the word, "hero". Certainly it is used as a tool as you suggest but what do you think about how it has sort of become the exception rather than the norm? For example, it seems heroic these days for a family of five to sit down to dinner together; what does this say about how individualism has hurt the strength of the family unit? Do you think it might also say something about how labor unions are by and large, weak? It seems that it is much easier to control an individual rather than a group of folks (a family or union) who have similar values and who fight to protect them.
I am thinking on all this after reading your essay because the folks elected seem hell bent on all that individualism with little regard for how it hinders cohesion both at home and at work...even though I will admit that to an extent it is helpful, especially when problem solving.
Nicholas, there's a treatise waiting to be written on this subject; that's for sure. The word "hero" carries enormous weight, and as you pointed out, its power extends beyond myth and propaganda into our varied conceptions of the individual and the group. The question of individualism, good or bad, continues to rankle at so many levels. Your concerns make me wonder if you've read any Ibsen. This was one of his primary themes, and he took a lot of flak for it.
I am not familiar with Ibsen - now I am and will endevour to read the work. I am still struggling to break away from my fantasy literature binge and it has hurt my writing and reading of poetry, which is to say that, I've not done either in about 4 months. This blog is a life saver so thank you!
Post a Comment